1. Describe the differences between specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia.
- Specific phobias, also referred as strong irrational fear reactions, are people avoiding to be in common places, situations, or objects although they know that there is no signs of danger or harm. People with specific phobias no that this fear is irrational but they cannot stop their actions to avoid. Social phobias are feeling uncomfortable, even ill, because of the fear coming from non-threatening situations, such as a presentation or asking a question. People with social phobias also cannot stop their fear although they know it is irrational but this disorder is mostly selective; people only feel anxious or uncomfortable in certain things, similar to specific phobias. Agoraphobia is fearing public places or open spaces where the person was attacked, tending to avoid them as possible for they had a bad experience. These people develop their own route, creating their own safe-zone area so they can manage to escape in dangerous situations. All three phobias have fear of places that are considered to be unthreatening and nearly safe. They are all specific about the object or places they fear and they cannot control the fears coming from these places, or objects.
2. What symptoms do children with generalized anxiety disorder have?
- Children with generalized anxiety disorder have difficulties with concentration, inability to sleep, restlessness and so much more. They are often perfectionist, resulting repetitions of tasks that are already done. They seek for other's constant approval and reassurance from others.
3. Why is it difficult for individuals with panic disorder to get a correct diagnosis?
- People who are considered to be with panic disorder are people who experienced a spontaneous panic attacks and are scared of recurring attacks. These attacks occur unpredictably, even during sleep. This disorder is curable however it is difficult for a correct diagnosis because this disorder mostly occurs with other mental and physical disorders, such as depression, asthma, other anxiety disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, which is a condition involving recurrent stomach pain and diarrhea often with stress, depression and others.
4. Describe the methods used to treat anxiety disorders.
- There are numerous treatments for anxiety disorders and out of all treatments these two were proven to be the most effective for people with anxiety disorders: medication and psychotherapy. Medication deals with anti-anxiety drugs and they do require several weeks to be cured. A unique part about medication is that if one drug did not cure the patient as it was predicted to be, then another drug can be used as a replacement.
There are three types of psychotherapy: behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Behavioral therapy's goal is to change responses of the patient through relaxation techniques, like breathing from diaphragm, and by exposing objects or situations that frighten the patient.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is helping the patient to understand the patterns and similarities of their symptoms and their thinking so that the patient can react differently to each situation that cause their anxiety disorder.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a treatment based on the concept that symptoms are the results from unconscious mental conflict. This therapy tries to uncover the meaning of each symptoms the patient is going through, believing that this would be necessary to relieve the patient.
Citations:
"Anxiety Disorders - Treatments." University of Maryland Medical Center. 5 Feb. 2008. UMMC. 02 Jan. 2009 <http://www.umm.edu/mentalhealth/antreat.htm>.
Questions for Social Anxiety Disorder
1. Describe the differences between specific phobias, social phobias, and agoraphobia.
- Specific phobias, also referred as strong irrational fear reactions, are people avoiding to be in common places, situations, or objects although they know that there is no signs of danger or harm. People with specific phobias no that this fear is irrational but they cannot stop their actions to avoid. Social phobias are feeling uncomfortable, even ill, because of the fear coming from non-threatening situations, such as a presentation or asking a question. People with social phobias also cannot stop their fear although they know it is irrational but this disorder is mostly selective; people only feel anxious or uncomfortable in certain things, similar to specific phobias. Agoraphobia is fearing public places or open spaces where the person was attacked, tending to avoid them as possible for they had a bad experience. These people develop their own route, creating their own safe-zone area so they can manage to escape in dangerous situations. All three phobias have fear of places that are considered to be unthreatening and nearly safe. They are all specific about the object or places they fear and they cannot control the fears coming from these places, or objects.
2. What symptoms do children with generalized anxiety disorder have?
- Children with generalized anxiety disorder have difficulties with concentration, inability to sleep, restlessness and so much more. They are often perfectionist, resulting repetitions of tasks that are already done. They seek for other's constant approval and reassurance from others.
3. Why is it difficult for individuals with panic disorder to get a correct diagnosis?
- People who are considered to be with panic disorder are people who experienced a spontaneous panic attacks and are scared of recurring attacks. These attacks occur unpredictably, even during sleep. This disorder is curable however it is difficult for a correct diagnosis because this disorder mostly occurs with other mental and physical disorders, such as depression, asthma, other anxiety disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, which is a condition involving recurrent stomach pain and diarrhea often with stress, depression and others.
4. Describe the methods used to treat anxiety disorders.
- There are numerous treatments for anxiety disorders and out of all treatments these two were proven to be the most effective for people with anxiety disorders: medication and psychotherapy. Medication deals with anti-anxiety drugs and they do require several weeks to be cured. A unique part about medication is that if one drug did not cure the patient as it was predicted to be, then another drug can be used as a replacement.
There are three types of psychotherapy: behavioral therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and psychodynamic psychotherapy.
Behavioral therapy's goal is to change responses of the patient through relaxation techniques, like breathing from diaphragm, and by exposing objects or situations that frighten the patient.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is helping the patient to understand the patterns and similarities of their symptoms and their thinking so that the patient can react differently to each situation that cause their anxiety disorder.
Psychodynamic psychotherapy is a treatment based on the concept that symptoms are the results from unconscious mental conflict. This therapy tries to uncover the meaning of each symptoms the patient is going through, believing that this would be necessary to relieve the patient.
Citations:
"Anxiety Disorders - Treatments." University of Maryland Medical Center. 5 Feb. 2008. UMMC. 02 Jan. 2009 <http://www.umm.edu/mentalhealth/antreat.htm>.